Bangladesh team management is well aware that Shakib needs to lead from the front in the Super 12’s if they want to progress further in the competition.

Shakib equaled Shahid Afridi as the highest wicket-taker of the T20 World Cup after claiming four wickets for just nine runs against Papua New Guinea (PNG) today at Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Muscat.

Those four wickets took his tally to 39 in 28 matches after playing all of the seven editions of the World Cup of this shortest format of cricket. Afridi's 39 wickets came in 34 matches. Since Shakib played six matches less than Afridi, he is now the leading wicket-taker of the World Cup.

With 675 runs from 28 matches, he also is in the sixth place in batting chart. Mahela Jayawardena, Chris Gayle, Tilkaratne Dilsha, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers were ahead of him at this moment in batting chart. The 4-9 in four overs against PNG is Shakib's best bowling figure in World Cup.

Shakib started this World Cup with 30 wickets under his belt but in the last three matches, he took nine wickets to emulate Afridi before the Super 12 phase begins.

Read More: Namibia creates history

The ace all-rounder took two wickets in the first match against Scotland in which Bangladesh lost by six runs. He then took three wickets in the side's 26-run win against Oman and now snapped up four wickets.

To cap off the performance, in Bangladesh's two wins in this World Cup, he was awarded man of the match.

After scoring 20 with willow against Scotland, Shakib also got back to form, with 42 and 46 runs against Oman and PNG respectively.

“Look, Shakib Al Hasan is a legendary player not only in Bangladesh cricket but in international cricket as well. It brings calmness in our team and in the field. He has a calm influences and very good with the young players always willing to share his knowledge (with the junior players) and with the captain,’’ Bangladesh head coach Domingo was quoted by ICC regarding Shakib’s influence in the national dressing room.

‘’In the context of our team he is a massive player. Players feel that if Shakib is there we got a chance so it’s great to have him as one of our senior cricketer,’’ he said.

Bangladesh skipper Mahmudullah echoed the same sentiment.

‘’Shakib Al Hasan has been the number one player for Bangladesh. His stats showing that he is probably one of the greatest in any format being an all-rounder,’’ he said.

‘’He has been a great performer for Bangladesh. He is a top class player, a great teammate and a very good friend,’’ he added.

Batting coach Ashwell Prince feels that Shakib will be able to guide other batmen from the non-striking end.

‘’Sometimes he could be batting with Naim who is a youngster and for these youngster to have someone like him batting at the other end coming together at end of overs talking, guiding because in T20 cricket they can be a lot of nerves around and you can be anxious specially for younger players and for the younger batsman somebody like him batting at the other end is important,’’ said the South African.

DailyCricket App  ( Android ):  Android DailyCricket app
DailyCricket App  ( iOS ): iOS DailyCricket App